Nakba Day demonstration at Tel Aviv University // Arab networks
Israeli students are already complaining to university authorities about their colleagues – from the Technion and Haifa University to Ben-Gurion University – demanding punishment and expulsion from studies for inciting publications, mocking victims or supporting Hamas.
Another arena is the student dormitories, where Jews live alongside Arabs. Last Shabbat was illustrated by the violent clashes that took place at Netanya College, after Jewish worshippers claimed that Arab students in the dormitories played loud music to interrupt their prayers, and even threw eggs at them. At the same time, it was recently claimed that students in dormitories also celebrated the massacre near the Gaza Strip.
Stress and distancing
"There is no doubt that when the academic year begins, there will be a lot of tension," says Peretz Lavie, former president of the Technion and now chairman of the National Council for Research and Development. "I'm afraid of the distance, but I hope it will be for a short time. The country will change, and part of the change will be in the level of tolerance for blatant incitement in institutions of higher education.
"These things will not be on the agenda as they were in the past, and I am convinced that this will change, but it is important to remember that there are also many expressions of identification with the state. Through education, we have succeeded in integrating many Arab-Israelis into the normal fabric of life, and I am afraid that we will go backwards."
Lavi. "I'm afraid we'll go back", photo: Michelle (Dot) Koum
Regarding incitement posts by pro-Hamas students on social media, Lavi said: "There is a tremendous danger in the inclusion of all Arab students. There are students who have to face a disciplinary or judicial committee, but it becomes a smear campaign, and at some point we have to stop and think about the fact that after the war we will have to live side by side. I'm afraid that there are those who will try to exploit this for political capital, so we have to be more cautious – take a tough hand against those who incite and identify with Hamas, but not see every Arab student as an immediate suspect."
As for what is happening in academic institutions abroad, Peretz says, "We need to take the presidents of universities in the United States and show them the film with all the horrors in the South. These are the things that can make a difference, because in the United States there is a campaign against Israel as on all campuses."
"Nothing happened in Israel"
Israeli academia has already seen many demonstrations against the IDF's actions, against the policies of the Israeli government, and more. Arab students affiliated with extremist cells demonstrate in Tel Aviv University's main square in favor of supporting terrorists and declaring that Israel is a terrorist state. Last year, the country was in turmoil over the raising of Palestinian flags at Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba. Such demonstrations were accepted with understanding by the academic institutions on the grounds of freedom of expression. It is doubtful whether this will be the case in the future.
"Our ultimate goal in the association is that all the students who return to the university will feel safe to be here together, just as we used to sit and study together before the war," says Einav Fish, head of the information department at the student association at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Grape Fish. "Like before the war",
She said: "It won't happen in an instant. The incident is complex and we will have to take inclusive and courageous actions to continue where we left off before October 7. Unfortunately, there are dozens of murdered members of the university community among us, as well as abductees. Reservists who left everything in an instant and haven't been home for a month, and I still don't know how they can easily return to sitting on the school bench.
"We are already thinking about the day after, what can be done to improve the situation. It is certain that not everything will go smoothly, the tension will be great, but neither we nor the university will allow a show of support for terrorism and violence.
"The situation where a student has to complain about another student for inciting posts increases hostility, but anyone who supports terrorism will be held accountable. We all want to believe that we will not see this phenomenon repeat."
Shai Rosengarten, head of education at Im Tirtzu, has no doubt that "nothing has happened in Israel. The murderous and shocking attack made all citizens of Israel, including students, understand that it is no longer possible to walk between the drops.
Shai Rosengarten. "What used to be will never be again",
"We are dealing with a murderous terrorist organization that follows in the footsteps of the accursed Nazis, and every student and faculty member who supports it and its activities must be immediately expelled from academic institutions and arrested by the police.
"In general, the recent statements by university administrations give a good impression of fighting incitement and support for terrorism, after many years of struggle on the part of Im Tirtzu and other Zionist elements.
"I hope and believe that what used to be will no longer be, and that from now on supporters of terrorism in universities will receive harsh disciplinary treatment without any manifestations of tolerance."
Universities Challenge
As noted, quite a few academic institutions have already taken action against students who posted texts and pictures on social networks supporting Hamas' murderous operation. Others shared photos of abductees and mocked them. The universities and colleges announced that they had expelled the students and took disciplinary action against them.
Stretching. Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheva, photo: Dudu Greenspan
On the other hand, a group called "The Academy for Equality," which includes 800 Israeli academics and claims to have a leftist agenda, claimed that "surveillance and sanctions are applied selectively," and that this is a trampling of freedom of expression and silencing minorities.
According to Prof. Yitzhak Nevo, a member of the group and a former lecturer in philosophy, "We are very concerned about the use of draconian measures almost completely against Arab students, while denying their freedom of expression, usually on false grounds.
"They publish publications by students from before the October events, which contain a variety of opinions, and their classmates attack them and demand that they be suspended – and it is being carried out. There is an upheaval about Arab students.
"This is destructive to Israeli academia, and if it does not ensure equal protection of the freedom of expression of every student and lecturer, academic institutions of the kind we know in totalitarian countries will be created here. People will be afraid to talk and investigate and trust each other. This is not a free academy. University administrations face a very serious challenge."
Elhanan Felheimer, chairman of the National Union of Students, states that "the rioters must be treated harshly, and I strongly condemn the violent acts that took place at Netanya College.
Elchanan Felheimer. "A harsh hand against rioters", photo: Arik Sultan
"Following the line led by the Association on students' identification with the enemy in times of war, all incitement and support for terrorism must be treated with zero tolerance. However, academia is a place that should be a safe space for everyone, and it is incumbent upon all of us to show responsibility and avoid generalizations and hatred of the other. The people of Israel must not fall into these places."
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